Roller straightening machine



Jan. 27, 1970 F. J. HAG EMANN ETAL 3,491,563

ROLLER STRAIGHTENING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 19, 1967 Jam. 27, 1970 F. J. HAGEMANN ETAL 3,491,568

ROLLER STRAIGHTENING MACHINE Filed June 19, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent Of'nce US. Cl. 72164 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A roller straightening machine in which the axles of the straightening rollers are adjustable in their angular position, and in particular from a vertical position into a horizontal position and vice versa. The machine can be used alone or in combination with one or more other devices, and can be mounted so that it can be turned within a machine frame.

The invention relates to a roller straightening machin for straighhtening rolled or extruded profiled element; or the like.

Certain profiled elements such as, for example, railway rails and other special-purpose profiled element require a two-fold straightening operation so as to obtain the necessary accuracy. For this purpose, the profiled element is first straightened along one of its axes in one straightening device and is then straightened along its other axis by straightening rollers of another straightening device, which extend in another direction to the rollers of the first-mentioned straightening device. A straightening plant serving this purpose could, in particular, consist of a heavy horizontal-roller straightening machine and a generally smaller vertical-roller straightening machine located immediately downstream of the horizontal roller machine.

In a modern production plant, it is possible selectively to make, in one and the same works, profiled elements of different kinds, i.e. profiled elements which require straightening in the direction of two of their axes and profiled elements which only have to be straighened by a single horizontal straightening machine. In a plant of the above-mentioned type this would mean that the downstream-located vertical straightening machine would be arranged to be shiftable, so that it could be removed from the working path when only the horizontal starightening machine was to be used. The gap thereby created in the working path or line can be filled by a roll table, for example.

However, there is the great drawback in that the vertical straightening machine per se cannot be used in practice for small profiled elements. It is thus not possible, in the case of a specific profiled element, which could in itself be satisfactorily straightened in a small straightening machine, to shift the horizontal straightening machine out of the working path or line and leave the vertical straightening machine in its place so that the latter can perform the straightening operation required. The reason for this is that the roller material would have to be brought into the required position by tilting or guiding it prior to being brought into the vertical straightening machine, or that in consequence of the unfavorable direction of the rod curvature special and costly ancillary devices would have to be provided, which furthermore only function under favorable conditions.

The consquence of this is that a straightening plant of this kind must comprise at least one further machine, i.e. a smaller horizontal straightening machine, so that 3,491,563 Patented Jan. 27, 1970 all requirements may be satisfied. However, only part of these machines would be used at any given time, so that the machines would be uneconomically operated.

The invention has the object of devising a way whereby machines of this kind may be used to better purpose and more economically.

To this end, the invention proposes a roller straightening machine in which the axles of the straightening rollers are adjustable in their angular position, and more particularly from a vertical position into a horizontal position and vice versa.

A machine of the proposed, novel kind is of great versatility. It can be used alone or in combination with one or more other devices, and offers the advantage that profiled elements of widely different kinds can be suc cessively straightened, with the adjusting procedures necessary being of a simple nature and rapidly executed. In this way satisfactory results can be obtained and better utilization of available resources achieved with relatively small expenditure.

For shifting the axles of the straightening rollers from one position into another, it is possible to mount the whole straightening machine so that it can be turned within a machine frame. Particularly suitable is a frame which is shiftable on wheels. A frame of this kind may be fitted with, for example, two lateral cheeks which hold the straightening machine by means of pivot bear ings. It is also possible to provide a pin which continuously extends from one end of the straightening machine to the other and on which the straightening machine is pivotally mounted. A further possible form of construction resides in arranging for the straightening machine to be tiltable about one of its edges.

The straightening machine can easily be arranged to swivel or pivot in a frame in which it is mounted by means of mechanical, electrical or hydraulic means or drives.

In one possible embodiment of the invention the straightening rollers can be transferred from one position into the other by arranging for a part of the machine which contains the axles of the straightening rollers to be pivotable relative to the other, stationary part of the machine. The pivotable part can be mounted and driven in a manner analogous to that employed when a separate frame is used.

A convenient and versatile arrangement consists in the provision of an adjustable roller straightening machine of the above-described kind and a horizontal-roller straightening machine, particularly a large horizontal straightening machine in which the distancing between whose straightening rollers is variable. Each of these two machines can be shifted from the working path or line in a manner known per se.

By use of the arrangement described in the preceding paragraph, different working programmes can be carried out without an excessive amount of equipment. For example, double-T beams (I-beams) can be straightened on the horizontal straightening machine only, the width adjustable machine being meanwhile removed from the working path or line. Furthermore, railway rails or special-purpose profiled elements can be straightened in two different co-ordinate axes on the horizontal straightening machine and on the machine which is fitted with vertically adjustable straightening rollers and which is located directly downstream of the horizontal straightening machine. It is also possible with this arrangement to remove the horizontal straightening machine out of the working path and, for example, to treat smaller profiled elements on the second machine, whose axles mounting the associated straightening rollers are turned into their horizontally adjusted position during this time.

An embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view in elevation of an adjustable roller straightening machine used in conjunction with a horizontal-roller strai htening machine which is only partially shown;

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the adjustable straightening machine taken along the line II-II of FIGURE 1, the view looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view of the adjustable straightening machine shown in another working position and on a larger scale; and

FIGURE 4 is a view in side elevation of the machine of FIGURE 3.

The material for straightening, e.g. railway rails, first passes into a large horizontal-roller straightening machine 1, which comprises housings 2 serving to receive the axles of lower straightening rollers which are adjustable in their height as well as housings 3 intended to accommodate the axles of upper straightening rollers. 4 indicates a discharge or outlet block. The part of the machine which is not shown is analogously constructed, although an infeed or inlet block replaces the outlet block. This horizontal straightening machine 1 can be laterally shifted from the working path on rails 5.

The elements to be straightened leaving the horizontalroller straightening machine pass directly to a straightening machine 6 in which the spacing of the rollers is less than that of the machine 1. Machine 6 has eight relatively staggered axles 7 mounting associated straightening rollers and equipped with their drive means. The machine 6 is pivotally mounted as a unit in side cheeks 9 of a frame 10 with the interposition of pins 8, so that the machine 6 can be pivoted from a position in which the straightening axles 7 extend vertically (FIGURES 1 and 2) into a position in which they extend horizontally (FIGURES 3 and 4). The drive provided for actuating the pivotal movements includes a hydraulic unit 11 whose cylinder is mounted on the frame 10 and whose piston rod engages the straightening machine 6 by way of a pivot bearing. The machine 6 can be locked to the frame 10 in each of its two terminal positions by means of index bolts 12 or like means. Frame 10 per se is, like the horizontal straightening machine 1, adapted to he removed from the working path or line on rails 13. 14 indicates the floor level of the plant.

In the position shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 both machines 1 and 6 are in the working path, and the axles 7 of the associated straightening rollers are vertically positioned. The plant is thus adjusted to be ready for the passage therethrough of rolled or extruded elements needing straightening treatment in two planes.

If, for example, large profiled elements in the form of double T beams (I-beams) or the like are to be straightened, it is merely necessary to use the horizontal straightening machine 1, with the second machine 6 being shifted from the working path.

A further manner of operation is illustrated in FIG- URES 3 and 4. In these figures the whole machine 1 has been shifted as a unit from the working path and the axles 7 of the straightening rollers of the machine 6, which has remained in position, have been adjusted into their horizontal position, so that smaller profiles, for example, can now be straightened.

Although an adjustable straightening machine of the above-described kind can be combined particularly advantageously with a horizontal straightening machine to form a combined plant, its uses are not limited to this form of application. A machine of this kind having straightening axles which can be moved from one position into the other can be used for any practical application wherethe requirement exists of treating profiled elements in different ways. If required, the straightening axles can be readily adjusted in different angular positions or through a different angular range.

All the features described above or shown in the drawing are to be considered to form part of the invention, either singly or in combination with one another, insofar as this is permissible in view of the prior art; this is true even if such features of the invention are not specifically mentioned in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A roller straightening machine, including straigh ening axles having freely projecting ends, a straightening roller carried by the free end of each axle, said axles and rollers being arranged in two parallel rows with the rollers of one row being staggered with respect to the rollers of the other row, and means for simultaneously adjusting the angular position of all straightening axles in common with the straightening rollers about an axis of rotation extending parallel to the direction of movement of the material.

2. The roller straightening machine as claimed in claim 1 in which the range of adjustment of the straightening axles includes a vertical position and a horizontal position.

3. The roller straightening machine as claimed in claim 1 in which said machine includes a frame, and a further means suporting said straightening axle pivotably mounted the frame.

4. The roller straightening machine as claimed in claim 3 including means whereby said frame is shiftable transversely with respect to the direction in which the material to be straightened is passed.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,954,525 4/1934 Hallden 72165 X 2,517,309 8/1950 Heller 72-164 X 2,567,770 9/1951 Heller .m 72-162 2,720,243 10/1955 Siegerist 72162 MILTON S. MEHR, Primary Examiner 

